Airport ID Rules Changing: New Bill Would Bar TSA from Accepting ICE Arrest Warrants

What's the Deal with Airport ID?

This bill, called the 'Crime Doesn’t Fly Act of 2025,' gets straight to the point: it tells the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) they can no longer accept certain Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) documents as valid ID at airport security checkpoints. Specifically, it targets ICE Form I-200 (Warrant for Arrest of Alien) and ICE Form I-205 (Warrant of Removal/Deportation). The main idea is to stop these specific warrants from being used to board a plane, unless the person is actually being deported under official procedures.

Shifting Sands at the Security Line

So, what does this mean practically? If this passes, presenting one of these ICE warrants at a TSA checkpoint won't work as proof of identity anymore. This directly changes the current process outlined in Section 2 of the bill. While the goal might be to limit immigration enforcement interactions at the gate, it could create hurdles for individuals who might have relied on these specific documents, perhaps because other forms of ID weren't available or accessible.

Potential Ripple Effects for Travelers

Here’s where it gets tricky. While barring these specific warrants seems straightforward, it raises questions about what happens next for affected individuals. They might need to secure alternative identification, which isn't always easy or quick. There's also a concern noted in the initial analysis: could this lead to more scrutiny for certain travelers if TSA agents are looking for other indicators or asking for different documents? It might also make things slightly more complicated for ICE operations that involve tracking individuals through air travel, though the bill does include an exception for active deportations. The core change is clear, but the real-world impact on individuals navigating the system could be complex.